Beaton’s ingenious felt creations transform the standard alphabet book format into an exotic blend of colors, creatures, and children’s names. Every letter, shown in uppercase and lowercase, appears in a child’s name and is also the beginning of the name of the creature chasing him or her: “Cc is for Carla—but who is chasing her?” A cat is shown, but left for children to name; the refrain is repeated for all 26 letters. Setting the volume apart, in addition to the boldly colored, multi-textured illustrations, is Beaton’s selection of names and animals. Ben and Luke play alongside Farooq, Gopinder, Sita, and Takeshi; next to the usual cat and fox are a quail, a xoona moth, an umbrella bird, and others, all named in the back. The only discord comes in the facial expressions of the children, who are often glum, apprehensive, or dismayed. However, the combination of vivid hues, curious creatures, and repetitive text make for an exhilarating foray into the world of ABCs for preschoolers. (Picture book. 2-6)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1999
ISBN: 1-902283-75-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1999
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Baker (Big Fat Hen, 1994, etc.) engages in more number play, posing ducklings in every combination of groups, e.g., “Splashing as they leap and dive/7 ducklings, 2 plus 5.” Using a great array of streaked and dappled papers, Baker creates a series of leafy collage scenes for the noisy, exuberant ducklings to fill, tucking in an occasional ladybug or other small creature for sharp-eyed pre-readers to spot. Children will regretfully wave goodbye as the ducks fly off in neat formation at the end of this brief, painless introduction to several basic math concepts. (Picture book. 4-6)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-15-292858-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1999
Following in the path of Fire Truck (1998), S°s transports young listeners to a realm they love, the world of trucks. Matt’s mother asks him to put his trucks away. He does so, accompanied by gerunds on every truck’s talent: digging, plowing, pushing, rolling. With each turn of the page, the text—running sideways up the right margin of the spread—and the trucks get a little larger. Soon, the text is fairly barking, while Matt manfully works the vehicles—he has become their size or they have become his. Toward the end of the book, in a gate-fold illustration, Matt is seated in an enormous crane, hoisting one of his socks; on the next page, his room is tidy, the toy trucks are stowed, and restored to their size, just as Matt is restored to his. As a last, obliging touch, the action moves outside, where Matt and his mother are off on an errand; their neighborhood is a hotbed of truck action. The world that S°s creates is wonderfully inviting, not least as a result of his artwork, with their simple, expressive lines and minimal use of color. (Picture book. 2-5)
Pub Date: April 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-688-16276-2
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1999
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